Topo Athletic Unveils Three Split-Toe Shoes

Company led by former Vibram CEO will produce two lightweight running shoes.

A month ago, Runner’s World Newswirereported on the formation of a new footwear company headed by Tony Post, who was CEO of Vibram during the rise in popularity of the FiveFingers shoes. While the exact type of footwear Post’s new company, Topo Athletic, would produce was a bit of a mystery at the time, we now have more details.

In late May or early June, Topo Athletic plans to launch three new models of shoes, all featuring a split-toe construction—two running-specific versions and one better suited for strength training activities like Cross Fit.

Currently, we have seen only photos of the shoes and talked to Post about features of each, so all figures are manufacturer specifications and have not been verified by tests at the Runner’s World Shoe Lab.

Most relevant for readers of this website are the RT (an everyday training shoe) and the RR (designed for fast training and road racing). Both shoes feature the split-toe design and a zero-drop platform—the heel and forefoot will sit at the same distance from the road surface. But Post is quick to point out that none of the company’s shoes are minimalist. Rather, the focus is on being lightweight.

The RT model is reported to feature an 8-millimeter EVA midsole and 4-millimeter rubber outsole. Combined with a 3-millimeter sockliner, the total stack height should be 15 millimeters. A men’s size 8.5 is expected to weigh 6.0 ounces. Those figures certainly are in line with minimal footwear, but Post says the shoe will also feature a heel counter, a stabilizing feature more commonly found on traditional training shoes. The RT is expected to retail for $100.

The RR model, meanwhile, positions your foot 3 millimeters closer to the ground; it features only 6 millimeters of EVA midsole foam and 3 millimeters of outsole rubber. It’s also lighter, reportedly weighing 5.3 ounces for a men’s size 8.5. It will have a retail price of $130.

Instead of standard laces as found on the RR, the lightweight RT model will feature a lacing system made by Boa. Thin steel fibers are shrouded in a nylon coating and take the place of shoelaces. The single strand is cinched tight by turning a dial that rests on the lateral (outer) side of each shoe’s upper. The benefit, Post says, is a better fit without the risk of any laces coming untied.

Separating the big toe from the other four is not a new concept in footwear: Japanese shoes, called Tabi, have offered this feature for decades; Nike released a running shoe with a split toe in the late 1990’s called the Air Rift; and, most recently, a company called Born 2 Run released a zero-drop model with a similar construction. But, as Post told Runner's World Newswire on Tuesday, he believes this design serves as an important anchor point for the forefoot. “In a shoe with a roomy forefoot, you lack security—especially going downhill,” Post said. The split in the forefoot allows the toes to spread naturally, but the foot does not slide around inside the shoe.

That split may look like trouble for runners who prefer to wear socks, but Topo Athletic intends the shoe to be worn with socks. The company has struck a deal with Injinji, makers of performance “toesocks,” to produce a no-show model available in three colors—gray, white, and black.

Topo Athletic will debut the new line of shoes at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show, held January 23-26 in Salt Lake City.